 | | Early elementary (k-3) students learn basic fine and gross motor skills in gym. Classes for older students focus more on object manipulation. |
Some elementary students are intimidated by gym class. They don’t attend Sheriden Elementary. Dennis Muller, Sheridan Elementary’s physical education teacher, works hard to make sure all students feel comfortable in class. For him, gym isn’t about competition.
“I want kids to be able to socialize and exercise together in a noncompetitive manner,” says Muller. When gym teachers remove the competitive atmosphere, “you get students who wouldn’t want to participate participating more fully. They don’t worry about other kids being better than them.”
It’s a all inclusive philosophy Mr. Muller says he adopted from Sheridan’s vocal music instructor, Mrs. Holland. “She’s very good at getting  | | up, up and away! |
everyone to join in,” he says.
Mr. Muller's approach to teaching athletics is to break sports down into specific skills and to teach those skills to the students. He also uses diverse activities to break up units. For example, while working on a hockey unit, he lets kids shoot baskets or work with hula-hoops for a portion of class. “I don’t want students to get bored. Some of them don’t like hockey as much. This lets them have a little variety.”
Mr. Muller also runs more competitive extra curricular programs for students, including a school soccer program, an introduction to downhill skiing in winter and a school wide track meet in spring.
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